Red Sonja #4 – Review

Gail Simone (Writer), Walter Geovani (Artist) Adriano Lucas (Colorist)

The Story: Sonja remembers some more of her personal history as she battles some foes sent from Dark Annisia.

The Review: Many people who are really into comics are looking for the next big thing. Be it the next event that delivers on its promises, the big breakout writer or artist who made it big or the next Saga. It’s normal to be anxious to be able to read something exceptional, yet a lot of the time some comics merely pass through, some that don’t quite fit the bill when it comes to superb or unique, but still delivers a certain amount of quality in a consistent manner. Those aren’t the book that will impress readers with impossibly amazing and expansive ideas or cool concepts, yet they are pleasant with but their solidly executed ideas nonetheless.

Red Sonja by Gail Simone is one of the latter, as although it doesn’t really break any new ground, it mostly delivers on things that are promised, notably action and strong female characters. There is some fantasy, a lot of brutality and some potent sword and sorcery tropes to be found in this book, which should please those that enjoy the genre in the first place.

What is enjoyable first and foremost, though, is the characterization that Simone write Sonja with, giving her plenty of different sides. She can be a violent and drunken barbarian as well as rather caring and introspective without really jumping the shark. Showing the readers a bit of the character’s past along with her current predicament allow for a three-dimensional approach to the character as well as a deeper understanding about why she is like this in the first place. Those who merely think of Red Sonja as the objects of countless fetishes could learn a whole lot more about her in this title a Simone treats the character with the respect she deserves.